Release Date :  Monday 26 January 2009

The Scottish Ambulance will introduce nine new motorbike response units across Scotland in a bid to cut through traffic congestion and achieve a faster response to patients.
 
The motorbikes will be ridden by specially trained paramedics and will be backed up by traditional ambulance vehicles whenever required.
 
They will provide a flexible, manoeuvrable resource in towns around the country that will result in the paramedics arriving to more patients quicker, delivering early treatment. The units are equipped with the necessary medical equipment to allow paramedics to treat and stabilise patients who, if required, will be transported to hospital by a traditional ambulance.
 
A spokesperson for the Scottish Ambulance Service in Edinburgh, said:

“The motorbikes will allow us to cut through the ever increasing traffic congestion in cities, ensuring a paramedic response arrives as quickly as possible to serious and life threatening calls.
 
“The most important aspect of ambulance care is the time it takes to get to the patient. These motorbikes offer a fast intervention for patients who can then be transported to hospital by a traditional ambulance if required.”
 
All of the bikes will be operational by Christmas in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Paisley, Lanarkshire and Fife.